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" -- welcomes refugees to the area by giving the children culturally sensitive dolls, "Buddy Bears", and/or teen gift bags upon their arrival.

"All refugee children have been severely traumatized and really benefit from a doll or bear to hug, cry with, and talk to as they adjust to their new country and culture," Gail Harvey, of Coon Rapids, writes on 

What's happened recently, however, is a sign of the times. The group is refocusing and expanding its effort to Canada, because the number of refugees allowed into the United States is dropping so rapidly.

On Tuesday, the group met in Fargo, N.D., with Welcome Place, part of the Winnipeg Interfaith Immigration Council, to turn over 40 dolls, bears and gift bags. If the refugees don't come to the Minnesota charity, the Minnesota charity will go to the refugees. Canada, in other words.

"They could’ve continued to give dolls to anyone else, and they chose us," Rita Chahal, executive director of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, tells the 

. "As their neighbor, they know about our work."

"It's not a step back," Harvey writes about the change at the charity, which had focused on the Twin Cities and St. Cloud.

The exchange in Fargo took place on World Kindness Day.

Dangerous passage: Refugees in Minnesota risk death to reach Canada

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Bob Collins

Author

'Don't Cry, I'm Here'  welcomes refugees to the area by giving the children culturally sensitive dolls, 'Buddy Bears', and/or teen gift bags  upon their arrival. But fewer are arriving now so the group is expanding to a more welcoming nation.

With refugees in shorter supply, Twin Cities charity eyes Canada

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